The Thursday of Grand York Rite was filled with the invitational and appendant bodies of the York Rite, that of the Order of the High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, Order of Knights Preceptor, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, and Knight Commander of the Temple (KCT). After the KCT dinner, the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill met where I served pro-tem as the Honorable Commander of the Right Wing (3rd-in-command).
Friday afternoon I was honored to be elected and installed into the office of Most Excellent Grand High Priest (MEGHP) of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho. For non-Masons with their eyebrows raised at the name, this position denotes that I am the presiding officer only. I do not carry any ecclesiastical authority or duties with this position. The title commemorates the legend of Royal Arch Masonry, that of the second building of King Solomon's Temple where the High Priest, not the monarch, presided over the high council that oversaw the construction. I’d like to thank the Companions for vesting their confidence in me to serve as Grand High Priest for the ensuing year. It is an extreme honor and I hope to fill the shoes of all those who have preceded me. I'd also like to thank my installation team: Johnny Willis, PGHP of Idaho; David A. Grindle, PGHP of Idaho; James C. Herndon, PGHP of Idaho; and Joe MacIntyre, MEGHP of WA. Each one of them has had a significant impact on my Masonic career.
Friday night, the Divine Service & Necrology Report was held followed by the Holy Land Pilgrimage Benefit Dinner. After dinner, Tri-Valley College No.178 met for its annual stated meeting where I was elected and installed as the Pre-Eminent Governor (the presiding officer). Today has been such a monumental day in my Masonic journey. After such a long day, it was time to relax with some scotch and brotherhood.
Saturday morning the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Idaho opened and Sir Knight Lawrence Lathrop was elected as the Right Eminent Grand Commander. He appointed me as the Eminent Grand Standard Bearer and re-appointed as the Idaho Supplement Editor of the Knight Templar magazine. Saturday afternoon the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Idaho convened where Companion Steven Hall was elected as Most Illustrious Grand Master and I was elected as the Right Illustrious Grand Principal Conductor of the Work.
For being elected as Most Excellent Grand High Priest and being a member of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor, I was awarded my first Quadrant of the Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honor. When a member of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor serves as the presiding officer of his respective Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, and Grand Commandery of Knights Templer, he receives a Quadrant for each of those bodies. The colors of each Quadrant are blue, red, purple, and white for their respective body. The background of my Quadrant is white as I have not served as Prior yet.
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